Storage and transporting kit



May 5, 1970 l E. FElRE ET AL 3,510,376

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United States Patent Int. Cl. H01m U.S. Cl. 136--181 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A receptacle device for storing and transporting articles susceptible to damage having at least one chamber in which the article to be protected is retained and sealed.

With the advent of small modern day missiles which, for example, can be shoulder iired, a need was created for actuating devices for the missiles which could be carried separately therefrom and thus reduce the hazards involved.

This problem was solved by the use of a battery/gas unit which can be readily inserted into the missile launcher for actuation thereof but yet carried separately therefrom.

This created a problem of how to safely store and transport the battery/ gas unit while maintaining it in a ready location for use as needed.

The present invention provides such a storage and transport means for devices such as a missile launcher battery/ gas unit or similar arming devices. The receptacle of this invention provides an efcient, compact and low cost kit for arming or power devices which, under various conditions of environment, maintains such devices in peration readiness.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a receptacle for the storage and transport of articles susceptible to damage While allowing such articles to be readily available for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for the storage and transport of one or more missile arming or power devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for arming/ power devices which utilizes a sealed, belt carried enclosure whereby the devices are maintained in the ready condition until removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage and transport kit for one or more battery/gas units for actuating a missile launcher which incorporates safety devices for the protection of the unit as well as the transporter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kit which functions efliciently, compactly, at low cost, and under various conditions of environment, to maintain missile arming or power devices in ready condition for use.

Other objects of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the invention positioned on the operator of a missile launcher;

FIG. 2 is a view of the invention with the elements contained therein shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a view of the structural member of the invention with a portion thereof cut away to illustrate an embodiment of the battery/ gas units contained therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating portions of a battery/ gas unit which are adapted to be stored and transported by the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the structural member of the invention.

3,510,376 Patented May 5, 1970 Broadly, the invention involves a carrying receptacle for devices such as missile launcher battery/ gas cartridges or units and can be worn by an individual in the field. The receptacle, as illustrated, is seen to comprise a multichambered molded structure adapted to receive an individual battery/gas unit in vertical position within each of the chambers provided. Each of the chambers further includes a resilient, annular spacer means located adjacent to its lower end for supporting the battery/ gas unit therein against transverse shock loads and to maintain the unit centrally within its respective chamber. In addition, each of the chambers may further include a conductive shorting device and a desiccant and/or frangible section or any combination thereof at its bottom area. When the battery/ gas units are disposed within the receptacle the head end of each unit is exposed to enable it to be quickly withdrawn from the receptacle by the operator. The receptacle is provided with a suitable cover which may include means for engaging a belt or sling to be worn by the missile operator for enabling the operator to carry the receptacle and the battery/ gas units therein.

While the weapon and the battery/ gas units illustrated in the drawings do not constitute part of the invention, the following general description and operation thereof are deemed necessary to provide a full understanding of the storage and transporting or carrying kit of the invention.

The general known mission of the weapon illustrated in FIG. 1 is to provide antiaircraft capability against low ying aircraft which can be carried and red by a single operator in terrain inaccessible to vehicles. To accomplish this mission, the weapon may incorporate a small, lightweight missile and launcher which can be carried and fired from the shoulder of a single operator. To meet the size, weight, and performance requirements, such a missile achieves passive homing guidance by using a space stabilized, infrared-seeking-head control system to generate guidance signals for a single-channel, Variable-incidence wing control system working in conjunction with a rolling airframe. The missile may be, for example, of the type illustrated and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 397,674, filed Sept. 16, 1964, and assigned to the same assignee of this invention.

In operation of the Weapon, only the round portion of the weapon system is deployed. The missile is sealed within the launcher tube and the launcher battery/ gas unit is externally inserted. The launcher with the battery/gas unit engaged contains all the elements required for the operator to: warm-up the missile and spin up the missile seeker-head gyro, cool the seeker detector cell, expose and aim the missile seeker head at the target, determine when acquisition of the target has occurred, uncage the gyro, insert lead and superelevation into the direction of launch and ignite the missile ejector squib.

As described in the above mentioned copending application, the missile tired from the launcher illustrated in FIG. 1 uses two fixed and two movable, single-plane, variable-incidence, folding control surfaces for guidance and stability and four canted tails to induce a missile roll rate as well as provide aerodynamic stability, all of which pop-out as the missile emerges from the launch tube. The nose of the missile is a clear hemispheric dome through which the seeker head can sense infrared (IR) energy. The ejector motor accelerates the missile to a desired speed and induces a roll rate thereof, lbut burns out before the missile clears the launch tube. The missile coasts for a period before the sustainer motor tires to prevent injury to the operator from rocket blast debris. The acceleration imparted by the sustainer motor provides the missile velocity for the guidance control surfaces to become effective. The missile then maneuvers 3 to a collision course with the target using the navigation technique.

Referring now to the drawings, the launcher provides a means of firing a missile (not shown), with the added capability for aiming and inserting lead and superelevation to the missile before firing. The launcher 10 also serves as a carrying case in the field, protecting the missile from the adverse environmental effects encountered during field handling of the weapon. The launcher 10 is provided with a receptacle which interlocks a battery/gas unit 11 with electronic circuits for external drive of the seeker gyro and with a conduit connected to a chamber around the detector unit of the missile seeker head for supplying coolant thereto from the unit 11.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery/ gas unit 11 comprises a plurality of terminal rings or electrodes 12 positioned in a head 13 and which are in electrical contact with the squibs of both the thermal battery and coolant container indicated respectively at 14 and 14'; and a gas nozzle or needle 15 positioned in a counter- Sink 16 of head 13 functions to transfer pressurized coolant gas from storage chamber of container 14 to the detector cell of the missile. Since the battery/ gas unit 11 does not constitute part of this invention, further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The storage and transfer kit as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 constitutes a receptacle 17 which, as shown, is provided With three chambers 18 adapted to contain units 11 in the vertical position. Receptacle 17 may be constructed from any suitable material such as structural foam plastic, plastic, laminated liber glass, low density material, etc. Receptacle 17 is retained for carriage by a bag 19 which may be constructed of canvas or other suitable material, and may be provided with attaching clips or hooks (not shown) for attaching the bag 19 to a sling or pistol belt 20 of an operator 21.

Each of the chambers 18 of the FIG. 3 embodiment are provided with an annular seal and retainer member 22 located in the lower portion thereof for supporting the battery/gas unit 11 against transverse shock loads and to maintain the unit centrally Within its respective chamber. The retainer member 22 also functions to keep the battery/gas unit 11 in place in chamber 18 when the cover of bag 19 is left open or unsnapped, thus the unit cannot fall out of the receptacle 17 inadvertently. In addition, each of the chambers 18 are provided with a conductive shorting device such as clip 23 and a desiccant tablet or plug 24. The shorting clip 23 abuts the terminal rings 12 at the bottom of unit 11 and prevents inadvertent discharge of coolant in chamber 14 and degradation and leakage of the battery portion 14 of unit 11. The desiccant plug 24 functions in a conventional manner to maintain the battery/ gas unit in a dry condition.

Each of the battery/gas units 11 is disposed within the receptacle 17 so that the heads 25 of units 11 are exposed to enable them to be quickly withdrawn from the receptacle by the operator 21 upon unfastening the `top or cover 26 of kit bag 19. The cover 26 of bag 19 is normally fastened by snaps or fasteners 27. An O-ring seal 28 is positioned around each of the body portions of units 11 and functions as a seal in both the receptacle 17 and the launcher 10 when unit 11 is inserted in the launcher via threads 29.

Also positioned in unit cover 26 of bag 19 are spare scope caps 30 which function to cover the sighting scope of launcher 10. If desired, the receptacle 17 may be molded or formed to include detents for retaining spare caps 30. A securing thong 31 is provided on canvas kit bag 19 for use by operator 21, if desired.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 differs from the FIG. 3 embodiment in that the lower end of `each chamber 18 of receptacle 17 is provided with a frangible section 32, and the shorting device or means 23 consists of a layer of conductive foil positioned on a layer of spongelike material 33, material-33 being provided with a safety aperture 34. In case of vinadvertent discharge of the pressurized coolant from Within chamber 14', the frangible section 32 would rupture and coolant discharge via nozzle 15, aperture 34 an section 32. Y'

It is thus seen that this invention provides protection and reliability for the illustrated battery/ gas unit or other such power and/or arming devices. This invention provides a means of shorting the battery contact rings (containing both battery and refrigerant bottle squibs in circuit), to prevent firing by stray currents or radiated fields. While carried in the device of the invention, protection is also offered to the operator from injury should a unit inadvertently discharge. Strapped in and sealed in the inventive device, the gas released by the unit would be vented out by the frangible area. The insulating qualities of the device would protect the operator from the heat generated by operation of the thermal battery.

It is within the scope of this invention to combine or interchange the features of the embodiments shown and to modify the shorting device to accommodate other type constructed terminals or electrodes of the unit. It is also understood that this invention may be utilized in a fixed type installation and need not be of the portable configuration illustrated.

Although specic embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and changes as come Within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim is:

1. A device for storing and transporting articles susceptible to damage comp-rising: a receptacle having a plurality of chambers therein, said receptacle being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material capable of withstanding impact by blow or fall, an annular resilient member mounted within each of said chambers for retaining and sealing an associated article in each chamber, a removable cover for said receptacle to form an enclosure therewith for the receptacle chambers, and electrically conductive shorting means mounted within each of said chambers to prevent electrical activation of the associated article within a chamber.

2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said shorting means constitutes a shorting clip.

3. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said shorting means constitutes a layer of conductive foil mounted on a layer of sponglike material.

4. The device defined in claim 3, wherein said layers of foil and spongelike material are provided with at least one aperture extending therethrough.

5. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said receptacle is provided with a frangible section defining the bottom of said chamber.

6. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said receptacle is constructed of molded structural foam.

7. A device for storing and transporting battery/gas units adapted for use in a missile Weapon system comprising: an electrically nonconductive receptacle having a plurality of chambers therein adapted for receipt of battery/ gas units, removable cover means for said receptacle to form an enclosure therewith for the receptacle chambers, each of said chambers being so constructed that associated battery/gas units can be readily removed therefrom, each chamber being provided in the bottom portion thereof With an annular resilient member mounted therein for retaining and sealing an associated battery/gas unit in each chamber, an electrically conductive shorting means mounted within each of said chambers to prevent activation of the electrical circuit of an associated battery/gas unit, and desiccant means.

8. The device defined in claim 7, wherein said receptacle is provided with frangibie sections which dene the bottom ends of said chambers.

9. In combination: a battery/gas unit for activating a weapon system and a transporting and storing kit; said battery/ gas unit comprising a body portion and a head portion, said body portion containing a thermal battery, pressurized coolant, means for activating said unit, and means for discharging said coolant; said kit comprising a receptacle having at least one chamber therein for the storage of said battery/ gas unit, and means for removably covering said receptacle, said chamber being provided at the bottom portion thereof with a retainer member for said battery/ gas unit, shorting means for preventing activation of said battery/gas unit, and desiccant means.

10. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein said receptacle is provided with a frangible section defining the bottom end of said chamber, whereby inadvertent discharge of said pressurized coolant ruptures said section.

11. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein said shorting means constitutes a shorting clip which abuts said unit activating means.

12. The combination dened in claim 9, wherein said shorting means constitutes a layer of conductive foil supported by a layer of spongelike material, said foil laye abutting said unit activating means.

13. The combination defined in claim 12, wherein eac] of said layers is provided with at least one aperture throng] which the coolant discharges upon an inadvertent activa tion of said unit.

14. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein sai( receptacle is constructed of material having insulatin; qualities sufcient to contain the heat produced by in advertent activation of said unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,919 7/ 1952 Darbyshire 206-2 2,693,499 11/1954 Neumann 136-17'. 2,813,669 11/1957 Frieder et a1. 206-3 X15 2,868,360 l/l959 Konkin 206-2 3,190,514 6/1965 Spilrnan 206-3 XF FOREIGN PATENTS 930,607 7/ 1963 Great Britain.

WINSTON A. DOUGLAS, Primary Examiner D. L. WALTON, Assistant Examiner 

